Latest Society News

Dangerous Contact with the Head21.11.16

Please see here for some guidance issued by World Rugby/RFU last week with regards to dangerous contact with the Head. Please also see this link to a Powerpoint with Clips that give some examples of Red Card Offences of this nature. This message will also go to the National League clubs today, with this stance taking effect immediately. (NB - this download contains a single slide and 4 videos; the clips may not play automatically when clicked from the slide - you can however play them manually)

RFU Survey25.11.16

You may have seen that the RFU recently launched the first England Rugby National Survey, to gain the views of the game. This promises to be the most wide ranging view of the game we’ve ever had, currently sitting near 20k completed responses. These submissions will form a key input into the RFU strategic plan work that is ongoing and cumulates in a board meeting on 14th Dec. With 2 weeks to go until the survey closes, it is most important to gather as many views as is possible.

A reminder from the Game Development Dept. (Match Officials) at RFU regarding head injuries/concussion - at the half-way point in the season, please could we politely remind all Match Officials that there is no HIA process for any competition below the Greene King Championship. We unfortunately had a HIA in the Women’s Premiership this weekend.

A point to remember; If a Player is taken from the field with a Head injury or suspected Head Injury, they cannot return to the field of play. We operate under the ‘Recognise’ & ‘Remove’ protocols. With all the focus on Player Welfare and concussion, it is extremely important we are aware of this.

A number of clubs have tried this in recent weeks in the National Leagues, well done to both Referees on insisting the player cannot return. The NCA have issued a reminder to clubs in the National Leagues.

World Rugby - zero tolerance to reckless and accidental head contact, effective 3rd January 2017 29.12.16

World Rugby has further strengthened its commitment to injury prevention by announcing details of a zero-tolerance approach to reckless and accidental head contact in the sport.

While injuries in the game are not on the rise, the federation continues to be proactive in furthering evidence-based strategies to reduce injury risk for all players.

In a change to law, World Rugby has redefined illegal (high) tackle categories and increased sanctions to deter high tackles via a law application guideline. This will apply at all levels of the game from 3 January 2017 introducing minimum on-field sanctions for reckless and accidental contact with the head, effectively lowering the acceptable height of the tackle. The guideline will be supported with a global education programme.

The lastest RFU Match Official Development send out (#3 of 2016-17) can be found here.

World Rugby - Contact with Head18.1.17

A reminder (hopefully this hasn’t passed you by!) that World Rugby has further strengthened its commitment to injury prevention by announcing details of a zero-tolerance approach to reckless and accidental head contact in the sport. Please see World Rugby here for further information and video examples. This has been in place since January 3rd.

On BT Sports Rugby Tonight programme on Wednesday, Wayne Barnes was a guest, discussing the above and offered some excellent advice and thoughts on this subject, which can be viewed via the below links:

The You are invited to the next West List regional meeting on Thursday 2nd February 2017 at London Welsh RFC, 1900 for a 1930 start. (London Welsh RFC, Old Deer Park, 187 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2AZ). We have managed to secure the attendance of the on field officials team for the England v France, RBS 6 Nations match on Saturday 4th February. So we will be holding a presentation/Q&A session with Angus Gardner, Glen Jackson and Marius van der Westhuizen along with Wayne Barnes.

It will be great to see not only a large turn out of West list members but also colleagues from the other regions.

Saracens Rugby Football Club are pleased to offer London Society Referees, their families & friends, a fantastic discount on tickets to the crucial Aviva Premiership game being played against London rivals Harlequins, at Wembley on Saturday 8th April. Full details of the over 30% discount on Silver tickets for the above event can be found here.